Generous donations from local businesses, individuals and groups allowed veterans to be served with a wonderful array of free services. In addition to the valuable services available, offerings included coffee and donuts, raffle prizes, presentations, free lunch for veterans and volunteer awards. Live music was by the Farris Family Singers and singer-pianist Bobby Mizzell.

McDonald’s gave out coupons for free food. The American Legion gave away 35 boxes of donated clothing, and the Navy Federal Credit Union gave away toiletries. Volunteer Carol Coy decorated the banquet hall in red, white and blue.

“The main thing was helping people,” said Natalie Young, assistant manager at NFCU. “There were gift baskets given away, too. One guy won a Snap-On Tools basket, and his face just lit up.”

Members of the Daughters of the American Revolution gave out “comfort kits” with toiletries and hand-knitted caps.

“The VFW considers this to be an outstanding success,” said Bob Kinstle, ship’s captain for VFW Ship #4084.

“One woman came in with five kids,” said LuAnn Capazzi, National Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Program committee member and a member of VFW’s Women’s Auxiliary. “Some veterans are homeless, some have a place to live but not much else. There are women, children, widows of vets who need help.”

Another auxiliary member, Charley Collins, described backpacks for kids, loaded with school supplies.“We gave out 30 buckets of food. For the homeless vets, we had tarps and plastic tablecloths for them to lie on, so they wouldn’t get wet, and blankets. The backpacks for the vets held things like jackets, socks, toothbrushes, tablets and pens. There were books, shoes, toys and stuffed animals for the children,” she said.

“The leftover food went to Bakersfield for a Stand Down on Oct. 11. This is a warm, wonderful feeling to be able to do this. I actually had to go outside because I started crying.

“To think that in this country, we have thousands of vets and even kids who are homeless. We should have had buses available in places like Inyokern and Trona to bring people in. Well, this is our first stand down, and it’s a learning experience. We’ll do even better next year.”